Broad Stripes & Bright Stars ~ 2014 Liberty Ball

Despite her attempts to bring up the good out of the bad, it seemed that the story was worse. She didn't know what to say, or even how to think when something like that was put before her. She didn't know that kind of struggle, the one with Jedi and Sith, being torn because it was part of your family. However when he said what he did about his father, his brother, it brought this kind of sadness to her that she would never think to comment on. His parents were dead, and she didn't know that kind of pain, maybe she would soon, but as of now she didn't know where or what her parents were doing.

Even at the mention of his brother, ended up fighting him because he wouldn't join, taking one another's arm. She thought how terrible it was because even with her sister, she couldn't imagine doing something like that to her. Just thinking about it, putting herself in that situation, made her words fail her.

"I'm very, very sorry about that. I know that I have nothing to do with it, and I know that I can't really say much to relate, or to know what you've been through. The only thing I could suggest doing is trying to be the best person you can be, with or without that weight hanging over you. Time can be a big healer, that's something I know. It just takes a while sometimes." She reached for his hand to try to hold it in hers, in a comforting way. "Even if your brother was so angry that you didn't join the Sith, you have to be happy in your own skin. Are you happy being a Jedi Knight?"

"I most certainly am," he said letting her hand take his hand. Unknowingly she took the one organic hand he had left, the right was metal from the elbow down to his fingers though he'd since had it covered in synthflesh. He wasn't sure if she'd be able to feel the difference in his hands but he was glad that she had taken his organic hand. "A lot of things have happened to me, some good and some bad but I know that I have chosen the best possible outcome. I'd rather be doing what I am now then anything else, mostly because I'm good at it." He tried to be a good man every day, some called him a hero, others well.. not so kind a title.

"You don't have to worry about me, I've made peace with my past. I concentrate on the now and of course the future." He could control what happened in these times and it seemed now that Enya was most likely going to become a fixture in his life from now on. He'd offered his help and he'd give it to her, he'd make sure that all the work was filed away with the Brotherhood and he would even take up her training himself. "Judging by what I see, I think I just might enjoy my future even more now," he said with a little smile. He didn't have many friends, it would be nice to have her within the Jedi.

It was a relief that he said that, because Enya believed in doing what you wanted to in your life. Some people were just stuck on her planet, forced to live how they did, whether they liked it or not. She took this exile as her chance to really live for something more. It would take some getting used to, but the different parts of the galaxy were very appealing to her, to discover what she could, and use her knowledge to help her in the future. It seemed that, despite his past, he was confident on his future, but then he said that by what he saw, he just might enjoy the future even more now.

She had this rosy little tint to her cheeks when he said that, and she kept moving her hands on his, moving her fingers on the back of his hand, and then even dancing on the palm. She was just being slightly more warm than a stranger might be. Since they both revealed some importance to their past, they were far from strangers in her opinion. "I can only hope that you do." Enya told him with another caring smile. "The future is more important, what one plans to do, plans to become. It can be much more of an impact than your past. That's something I fully believe in."

She was a very strong and kind woman, he could tell that off the bat. However seeing her so.. warm and gentle, it really spoke to her character. She had really only just met this man and already it felt like they knew a great deal about one another. Kindred souls one might say. They understood one another and Mark could tell this would be a boon when it came to her training and the things they would need to do in her time of learning. She would be a good student, but he could also see how straight forward she was, how confident. Something told him she was going to be a handful as they got to know each other more.

"I tend to believe the same. One day I imagine I will become a Jedi Master, be one of those wise men that people come to when they need advice and wisdom." It was as good a goal as any, he took little for himself even though the idea of having a family might be nice too. Other Jedi did, some didn't, for Mark it was more that he didn't really find someone that went with his personality. Some flings here and there but nothing too serious. "What do you plan to do with your future, Enya?" he asked curious as to what she might wish to achieve in her time.

"I thought I might try something a little more daring," Seth told her with a smile knowing that not wearing a tie with his suit was definitely different. He always liked to please her and it was nice to see that she liked the look on him. Her fingers played with the material a little and she seemed quite pleased that he could find new ways to impress her. She expected nothing less from the man that she had chosen as her husband and the father of her children. It was nice to know though that he could always meet her expectations and even surpass them. In a way, it's what Seth did, knock Kassey right off her feet and catch her all at the same time.

Kassey leaned in close to kiss him and he eagerly kissed her back before she told him they were going to have a great time and that it had been a while since they had been in a club. "Good things tend to happen when we are in clubs." They had a history that much was for certain, fun was certainly an idea that came to mind and tonight he really expected no less from the two of them, even married with kids they could still find ways to have a good time.

"Well
having heard that you were going to get something new for me, I felt it
necessary to go out and find something nice for you." Garrus if
anything wanted to at least match the effort, looking at Nikole though,
her outfit far out did his. He didn't have too much time to think about
it, she told him then that she felt she deserved more than just a
compliment and a kiss on the cheek and if he was honest he would be
inclined to agree. Just as if the two of them had been thinking the same
thing they stepped even closer and she leaned her head up to kiss him
as he let his hands wrap around her body and his lips kiss hers.

When they finally parted after a few seconds, Garrus whispered against her lips. "I missed you."
A sentiment he began feeling the moment she disappeared from sight. He
couldn't be how sure of when he'd see her again and so life had gone
back to it's usual self without Nikole around. Having her call him was a
joy and this little occasion was going to be one to remember now that
the two of them were reunited again.

"You're my dear, sweet sister. Being with you all this time has been quite a pleasure,"
he said with a silly smile on his face as he was just playing with her
now. She agreed on the fact that they were very lucky or very good at
sneaking around. "Perhaps a bit of both, who can say,"
the young hunter said with a bit of a shrug as he noticed a
particularly alluring red head walk by wearing a midnight blue gown. She
gave him one look and then looked away, either that was playing hard to
get or she really wasn't interested. Castiel would need to keep an eye
on that one he thought to himself before he turned his attention back to
his sister."You don't have to worry, I'll
protect you from Mom, it's not fair how she puts more on you just
because you're a girl. Too much pressure makes it hard to succeed."
He knew of their mother's favor of him and he just wished it didn't
come at the expense of his sister. Since they were young he'd stuck up
for his sister because it wasn't right how she was treated differently. "I wouldn't worry about it too much tonight is a night for fun, for the both of us." There would be no doubts there, he was sure of it.

He said that he believed the same as her, and he hoped, imagined, that he would be a Jedi Master one day. His reason just made her give him a little bit of a confident smile, one of more concern, but with the content nature of knowing that he was right. "One doesn't need that title to have people go to them, when they need advice or wisdom. You just need to be strong, which you are. But I'm sure one day, you will be a Jedi Master. I could see it in you already, you have the potential to be just about anything you put your mind to." It might have sounded like an overused morality speech, but it was something that she did believe in. The mind was a strong and powerful thing, there was no doubt about that.

Then he asked her what she planned to do with her future. She actually thought about it for a moment, and she slowly let his hand go and sat straight up in her chair. "I don't know if all people who can use the force without being trained, have this problem. But I knew that growing up, I wanted to be something more, something more that my planet could offer. Something more than my family could do for me. I knew I could use the force, but I don't know how..neither of my parents could, at least, to my knowledge. I was a protector, on my planet. I was part of a team that looked over the younger folk, that trained them, and stood in the way between them and danger until they were old enough to care for themselves. Doing that just made me have the desire to help more than just people on my planet."

She knew that she was saying a lot to a simple question, but she found no reason not to. "I want to make a difference. Maybe become a Jedi Knight, acquire the knowledge I need, and help the people in this galaxy that can't help themselves. It's what I've done as an adult..now I just want to do it on a larger scale."

"A pleasure, right." She said with that hint of sarcasm. She had a feeling that she was more of a pain and a hassle to deal with, more than a pleasure. But still, her and Castiel had that strong connection being siblings, one that not many had, and she would make sure she held on to that little connection for as long as she could. But the conversation was back to her mother, a point to where she found the need to take another long sip from her drink just thinking about it. She always felt like she was disappointing her mother. No matter how much her brother and father would build her up, there were just times that nothing would really help her.

It was terrible to be so pessimistic at times, but she couldn't really help it. He told her that he would protect her, and admitted that too much pressure was hard for her to really shine, and even told her that their mother was too hard on her. She didn't like to admit it out loud, but having someone else say it spoke to her sanity, and that it wasn't just in her head. "I really try to do my very best. I guess sometimes it just feels like...she's preventing me from doing that." She looked down at her drink, and decided to down the rest of it, and push the glass aside. She put her hand over her mouth and just smiled. She wasn't used to drinking like this, but it was all in efforts to have fun, like he said.

"You're right..fun for both of us..so what is it that you want to do tonight while we're here?"

She did a marvelous job of helping him feel good about herself and when asked she put a lot of thought into her answer and he liked that, she had the compassion that Jedi needed and already she was showing quite the correct personality to have. It seemed she wanted to be a Jedi Knight and to help people on her homeworld, that was as good a goal as any and a noble one at that. "Well I can definitely help you achieve your goal, I have no doubts there," he told her, assuring her that she would be able to have what she wanted and more if she was determined to learn all that she possibly could.

"In fact I think I can get you started right away," he said with a smile. "We don't have to go anywhere or anything and we can still have fun with the evening but I don't see why we can't see about helping you take your first step." With that he pulled his lightsaber from his belt and set it down on the table between them. "Okay, the Force is connected to everything. Living beings generate it and this energy field binds everything together. Those who are Force sensitive like you and me can sense those links. Inside my lightsaber is a Force infused crystal, I want you to concentrate on it and see if you can feel it. Close your eyes if you think it will help."

It felt so good to give him that kiss, feel that familiar feeling that she grew used to. Even though it's been a little while since they saw one another, she was glad that it was an event like this. It was really something that she wouldn't see herself going alone, but with a date like Garrus, the offer was so very temping, and he seemed to take her up on that very offer. He seemed like he was excited to be there with her just because of the kiss, and when it broke, he whispered against her lips that he missed her.

She paused for just a second, and she moved one of her hands up to brush against his cheek, and she let he fingers move down to his neck. She was just touching him, remembering their time together, and thinking about how good he could make her feel. "I missed you, too." She finally said back, and then she reached her hand down to take his as she started to walk towards the entrance of the place."So, tell me, has anything new been going on with you since we last saw one another?"

"It's true!" he said when she spoke with
sarcasm regarding the pleasure that it was to be with her all this time,
since they were kids to now. He could help but laugh at it all though
when they got on the topic of their mother he knew that was going to
bother her. He wouldn't go on any further but just seeing how his sister
downed that drink at the mention of their mother spoke volumes to them.
"Well don't let it bother you too much, you've done great in my book,"
he told her with a smile as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and
gave her a little hug to let her know that her brother knew her worth.

She agreed with him that they could still have fun though and she asked what he wanted to do tonight while they were here. "I don't know, we could always dance if you want. We could take in that laser light show.. thing." He wasn't sure how he felt about the laser light show if he was to be honest with her. "Or I suppose we could just drink until I have to carry you home.. course the hangover wouldn't be any fun."
Not to mention their parents would probably freak, that's why if they
did drink to much, Castiel planned to just keep them on this planet for a
day or so to give it all a chance to wear off.

When he wrapped his arm around her shoulder to provide that comfort, she leaned in and just smiled. He made her feel good, that much was true, and she was glad that she had a brother like him, one that would respect her, and protect her, even as something as close to her as her mother. It was a dangerous game to play when one of her parents pushed her so far, that she felt disconnected from them, but she just had to keep her head up and move on.

He suggested a few things, that they could dance, and she let out this chuckle. "No, you and I are not dancing." Cosima just snickered even more, and then he said something about the laser light show that was going on. She cringed a little and shook her head, just because it didn't seem that interesting. Maybe kind of cool, but the holograms and the lasers, the lights and things didn't really interest her. A day on Dathomir seemed much more exciting than that.

Then he said that they could drink until he had to carry her home and she let out this laugh. "Really? I don't think you're strong enough to carry me home." She teased him just as her drink was refilled..something about getting drunk now appealed to her, maybe it was because something that she never did before. "I think you'd tire out too easily." She tried to be as serious as she could, but she couldn't really stop herself from laughing even more. "You better catch up if you're going to drink..this is my third one after all."

No dancing, well enough.. the two of them weren't really dancers. The
light show was also something that didn't really seem to appeal to her
so that was two things they could agree on there. Falling on the third
though, drinking, she decided to tease him a bit, saying he wasn't
strong enough to carry her home and that he'd tire too easy. "I've carried you before and I can do it again, I like to pace myself."
What made him smile the most was when she mentioned that he had better
catch up if he was going to drink since this had been her third one
already. It was on now as he waved over the bartender."Give me 3 of what she's having," he said, letting the bartender start putting the drinks together. "I always did like giving you a head start but I'll catch up soon enough don't you worry,"
he said with a look on his face that showed his seriousness but also
that he was playing with her. As soon as the bartender finished one
drink, he grabbed it and began to drink it down not bothering to take it
slow. When he emptied the glass, he slid it back to where the bartender
was and waited for him to make the others. "You're in over your head now, dear sister."

It was nice to know that she missed him as much as he missed her. One might say he was growing way to attached way to fast but really he didn't care. He was only going to live once and he was going to let himself go crazy, after all he was a young man at the top of his game. The touch of her hand against his cheek made him smile and he let her take his hand as the two made their way inside, showing the splendor of what this club was tonight. The lightshow was just starting, the ambient light was low, drinks were glow in the dark and people were talking and laughing and having a good time.

Nikole posed a question to him that drew his attention back to her, she wanted to know if anything new had happened since the last time they saw one another. "Not much, I had to move my set up to another location. Nothing bad I promise, just a routine change to sort of keep me on my toes." The more he decided to settle in the easier he was to find and he was not going to make it easy on anyone to come find him. "What about you? Any more luck with your family?"

She tried to hide her surprise, trying to keep it cool, but she was actually really surprised when he ordered three of her drinks right away. She at first had this shocked look on her face, but then she just brushed it off as if it were nothing, no big deal. She knew that she had to step up her game just slightly to make sure that she stayed ahead of him now. Like many times before, it was a race, just this time, it was a race with alcohol. The two always had that healthy competitive nature to them both, and here it was in full display again.

"Do I look worried?" She said with a big laugh, and she looked to one of the bartenders that weren't serving at the time being. "I'd like three more, please." Cosima just wanted to make sure that she stayed ahead of him, and because she didn't drink often at all, she was already feeling a little bit of a buzz, and she really did think that it was going to be an interesting night indeed."I think you're the one who's in over their head." She picked up the drink, and she downed it just like he did. It was sugary, and fruity, so it tasted almost like candy. It was no problem at all to be downing this kind of drink quickly, but at the same time, three more was going to do her in quite nicely. "I'm going to win this one. I hope you're ready."

He'd spied that look on her face and it gave him a little satisfaction
to see her so surprised. Course she tried to hide it away but he had
seen it and that was all that he needed. She asked him if she looked
worried and he simply gave her an emphatic. "Yes. I think you are because you know how fast I can go."
He'd had his fair share of drink before but if his sister wanted to
play the game then he would happily oblige her. He would admit though,
he was a little surprised when she ordered three more. One thing he knew
for sure was that the two of them were going to be so drunk later.. it
wouldn't even be funny.

His second one was finished and he
grabbed that one and downed it all the same. Seeing her drink another
put her a bit more ahead, 4 to his 2 now, he knew he could catch up
though. He waited for the third to be made and grabbed it just as
quickly. Cosima taunted him a little telling him he was in over his head
but he just drank. "Action speaks louder than words,"
he told her as he ordered three more. Now the score was more even 4 to 3
still in her favor. She said she was going to win this one but he just
gave her a smile. "We'll just have to see about that. I think I can handle more than you can."

"You're right...actions speak much louder than words." She teased back at him, and then she watched him. He was really as serious as ever to catch up with her, and she felt that need, that competitive need to continue on, and make sure that she would always be one up on him. She took one of her drinks and she took a sip, but then sucked it up and downed it. She didn't want to show any moments of weakness, especially now that he was catching up to her, although she didn't want to admit it.

"I know I can handle more than you can." She had this right amount of confidence. "Even if I can't win at some things..I probably drank more than you have." In all actuality, she had no idea if that was true or not. He could have gone out drinking way more times than her, and when it came down to it, if she had to put a number on it, this would be her fourth of fifth time..no one of she ever got drunk during.

This would all be very..interesting. "So, how many times have you gotten drunk?" She asked, but this time just slowed it down and concentrated on talking and having fun while she sipped on her sixth drink...in all honesty, she needed to slow it down a little before she got sick.

He had what seemed like a permanent smirk on his face as she agreed with him about actions speaking louder than words but he knew he could out do her. She tried to make it seem like she could handle more but he very much doubted that she could. What amused him the most as the bartender was making him another batch was when she said even if she couldn't win at some thing, she'd probably drank more than he had. "In your dreams, dear sister." He was sure he'd had much more than she had over his time. Another drink was put in front of him and he downed another one bringing him up to 4 all together.

While he was drinking his fifth she asked him how many times he'd gotten drunk. He got about half way done before he let the drink down from his lips, deciding to pace himself. "One or twice, I've tried to keep the number low, never know what could happen and the last thing one wants is to be caught with their pants down." It was a good policy to have all things considered. The last thing he wanted to be was off his game. Having given her his answer he finished his drink, bringing him up to five now.

In her dreams, he said. She let that slide for now, and she would make sure that she would prove him wrong. Although, there was part of her that knew that he was going to win, and he would definitely have to be carrying her back in the ship that they came from, when all was said and done. Even if he was just as drunk as she was, he could probably handle it better, and she would really need him to take care of her, which he always did anyway.

But for now, it was just a brother and sister drinking and being competitive, just like it always was, and she was having a good time trying to show him up and making a little game of it all. He told her that he was drunk a couple of times, because one never knew what could happen. At his last comment she cringed a little, as if she were grossed out at him saying that, just as she took another big drink of it. "Let's not get caught with anyone's pants down tonight." Cosima then finished up her drink, and though she knew that she should slow down, at the same time she was just having way too much fun.

"If it helps you, I've never gotten drunk before..so you can win that game, while I win this one."